A virtual Festival of Giving is bringing in some big bucks for the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent.
Saturday night’s event brought in $177,000.
Foundation executive Director Mike Genge says it may not have been the party they originally wanted to throw, but it’s all for a good cause.
“We need these funds, our kids are still coming to the Children’s Treatment Centre, they still have needs, we’re still working with therapists, we’re doing our best,” Genge says. “It was a great night, raising $177,000 is absolutely incredible for one evening.”
Because of the pandemic, the original plans for the event had to be changed, but Genge says the most important thing is the effect COVID-19 has had on the Centre’s families.
“That supports recreational services, that supports music, and that supports social works, those are three really hard hit areas but social work is one of the areas where we need help the most,” Genge says. “Our parents are struggling. They’re home, they’re home with their kids, and they’re trying to get back on a regular routine. All that money we raised goes towards those programs and helping those kids to keep developing and keep moving forward.”
Genge says the virtual event Saturday night went off without a hitch, thanks to an amazing crew of volunteers.